Dana White Says Conor McGregor Is Like Muhammad Ali – ‘He Is Literally At Ali’s Level’
Dana White has compared Conor McGregor to Muhammad Ali.
The comments were made about their persona and the ability to get into the heads of their opponents. Ali did this famously when he trash-talked against George Foreman and Joe Fraizer. For the Foreman fight, Ali made one of his most iconic lines: “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. His hands can’t hit what his eyes can’t see. Now you see me, now you don’t. George thinks he will, but I know he won’t.”
Coming into that fight, Foreman was undefeated. He had beaten Frazer and Ken Norton. But Ali lived up to his words, stopping Foreman in the eighth round. For the Frazer fight, Ali stated the following: “It’s gonna be a chilla, and a killa, and a thrilla, when I fight the Gorilla in Manila.” While Ali lost their first fight in 1971, he would win the next two to get the better of the head-to-head record. In their final fight in 1975, Ali made Frazer retire in the 14th round.
Ali And McGregor
McGregor also had some memorable fight nights. He predicted that he would stop Jose Aldo in the first round. The Notorious delivered, knocking him out to become the UFC Featherweight Champion. McGregor repeated the same trick when he faced Eddie Alvarez. McGregor promised to stop Alvarez, saying he would ‘rearrange’ his face. He lived up to those words by stopping Alvarez in the second round. The win made him a two-weight UFC champion. Based on their ability to live rent-free in their opponent’s head, White had nothing but good words to say about the two.
“I will tell you this and I don’t ever like to compare people to Muhammad Ali because to me he’s the…[best]you know, and…what he did in fighting, just as a human, what that guy accomplished. But I don’t give a..[damn] what anybody says: Ali, Conor, both level when it comes to mental warfare. The two best of all time when it comes to mental warfare.
“Then you look at Conor McGregor. He’s picked rounds. The mental warfare that this guy had on so many of his fighters. A hundred percent [McGregor got in Jose Aldo’s head], and he would make these guys play into his game, get into their heads…embarrass them, and outwit them in every way, shape, and form. The Eddie Alvarez fight going into Madison Square Garden. He is literally at Ali’s level when it came to mental warfare,” White said
McGregor’s Legacy
Outside of the sport, people may disagree. Ali’s legacy extended beyond boxing. He stood up for various issues, including the Civil Rights Movement. He also refused to serve in the military, opposing the Vietnam War. That came at a cost, as he was stripped of his belts and was out of action for over three years before returning to box Frazer in 1971 during their first bout.
McGregor does not have that legacy. However, he played an instrumental role in making sure that fighters get paid more. McGregor has made multi-millions in the UFC and outside of the sport. He has become a crossover star, making his Hollywood debut this year in Road House. He is also the part owner of BKFC. The Irishman’s comeback fight against Michael Chandler on June 29 at UFC 303 has set a new UFC record, with a live gate exceeding $20 million. McGregor has laid that blueprint for others to follow.
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